Lookin’ for updates, presume the vote has been kicked back to Thursday. Dammit.
Access and Public Lands
The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) has thrown their hat in the ring opposing Montana HB 309 – Bozeman, Mont. – Jim Klug, Chairman of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) announced the association’s opposition to House Bill 309, in testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 8. The legislation would upset […]
Those following the HB 309 saga in Montana have spent the weekend out and about, though still listening for news, any news, of the dealings going in Helena this weekend. There’s little if any meaningful news available today, though there are a couple of most worthy reads you should take a gander at from the […]
Fly fisher folk around the neighborhood and nation have been watching the ‘melee in Montana’ – the not so obvious attempt to end run Montana’s Stream Access regs that have been in place since 1985. Like you, we’ve been searching for hope that HB 309 is dead in the water the past few days after […]
Still waiting this afternoon for definitive word out of the Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee of the Montana state senate as to the fate of HB 309. Regional Montana press coverage (if you can call it that) has been overall very favorable to those who oppose HB 309 today. Implied in the media reaction is […]
A hearty ‘well done’ to those faithful who were able to make the journey to Helena yesterday for the Sportsman’s Rally for Stream Access. Media outlets are reporting this morning that HB 309’s hearing yesterday drew the largest crowd to date for this legislative session. Accounts we’ve heard and read put our numbers at well […]
Though it’s probably too damned early right now (4:11 Montana) to hear anything definitive, like many of you who couldn’t travel to the Rally and hearing in Helena today we’ve been scrounging around for some form of update. John S. Adams, the Capital Bureau chief for the Great Falls Tribune, has been posting occasional updates […]
After a fair amount of huffing and puffing over HB 309 it’s time to call in the cavalry today. The Sportsperson’s Rally for Stream Access starts at 2 PM today in the Old Supreme Court Chambers in the Capital Building in Helena. Come one, come all. We’re inspired by stories of busloads of anglers rolling […]
There must be something in the water in Dillon. The same community that championed Rep. Welborn, the illustrious author of HB 309, also may proudly claim Montana Senator Debbie Barrett, the author of a 4 March ‘straw man’ attack on Montana TU in the Missoulian, with the article running again in the Montana Standard on […]
Now and again events transpire that offer a glimmer of hope during these days of widespread illogical governance, hyperpartisanship, protesting, whining and seemingly universal economic stress. Speaking metaphorically – the red telephone rang yesterday. John Youngberg, the Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, yesterday provided one of those ‘glimmer of […]
Last Wednesday, John Youngberg, the Vice President of Governmental Relations for the Montana Farm Bureau, wrote an op-ed that appeared in the Helena Independent Record titled Irrigation Ditches Should Remain Just That. The piece was concise, to the point and for the most part well written. As you read his op-ed yourself, you’ll note that […]
We’ve been anxiously awaiting Mark Aagenes’ responses to questions we threw at him last week. It was worth the wait. Mark is the Conservation Director for Montana Trout Unlimited and has the dubious honor of being TU’s ‘man on the ground’ in Helena this year. We asked him to share a bit about himself in […]
Just in from Michael Gibson at the Montana TU headquarters – the senate committee hearing and vote on HB 309 has been rescheduled to Tuesday the 8th of March. Therefore the Sportsperson’s Rally for Stream Access will start at 2 PM, Tuesday, March 8th in the Old Supreme Court Chambers in the Capital Building in […]
Today’s message from the Montana TU via the Madison – Gallatin chapter:
Ten things I think I think about Montana Stream Access and HB 309: Montana has had one of the strongest, most revered and most enjoyed stream access laws in the nation since 1985. Back in the day it was crafted with thoughtful involvement of ag interests, landowners, the state and recreationists like us. No law […]
